Northwest Talk.

President to president: Harper College President Paul...

October 01, 1995|By Stefanie Cascio.

President to president: Harper College President Paul Thompson is doing a lot more these days than overseeing the events and activities at the Palatine campus. He recently was elected to the American Association of Community Colleges Board of Directors, a 25-member group that monitors trends in education and promotes community colleges through legislative advocacy.

Thompson, a 55-year-old Inverness resident, went through a three-month election process to get on the board. After he had solicited more than 50 signatures from the community, he was placed on the ballot and then was selected from about 10 candidates from across the nation.

At a convention held in Minneapolis, the newly elected board members were welcomed by President Clinton. Getting a chance to shake hands with the president was the highlight of the trip for Thompson.

"Each of us had a brief exchange with him, and he was very supportive of community colleges," Thompson said. "It's great to have the president in support of what you believe in. It was refreshing and energizing."

Thompson, who has been president of Harper College for eight years, said his main duty as a board member will be to serve on a federal commission working with trustees and board members from community colleges across the nation. He will also serve as liaison to an instructional telecommunications council that will deal with multimedia teaching tools.

"It's an interest of mine, and I am pleased that I was chosen to be liaison for that area," he said.